The 27-year-old Syrian refugee who blew himself up outside a restaurant-cafe near a music festival in the German city of Ansbach had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video message, officials say. The group has since claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident happened at around 10:30 p.m. local time on Sunday when an explosion occurred in front of the Eugens Weinstube (wine bar) on Pfarrstraße in downtown Ansbach, a city that is located in the state of Bavaria. It is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northwest of Munich.
Local media initially reported that the blast was caused by a gas leak, but Ansbach Mayor Carda Seidel later confirmed that the blast was the result of an explosive device. The bomber was the only person killed in the blast, but 12 others were injured, some of them seriously.
The attacker was identified as a 27-year-old Syrian refugee whose request for asylum had been denied last year, but he had not been deported yet due to mental problems. German officials said Monday that a video found on his phone showed the refugee pledging allegiance to ISIS.
The Islamic State’s news agency later claimed responsibility for the attack.
The suicide bombing occurred during the Ansbach Open music festival in the city, which was taking place from Friday through Sunday and attracted many thousands of visitors. After the explosion took place, authorities decided to cancel the remainder of the event.
The attack came nearly a week after a 17-year-old refugee attacked people with an axe inside a passenger train near the German city of Würzburg, injuring five people. The attacker, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, was shot dead by police.
The incident also came just two days after a deadly shooting attack at a shopping mall in the German city of Munich, killing 9 people and injuring dozens more. The attacker, who killed himself when approached by police, was not linked to Islamic terrorism.
And earlier on Sunday, a Syrian refugee with a machete attacked people in the city of Reutlingen, killing a pregnant woman and injuring two other people. The incident was preceded by some sort of argument and police ruled out a link to terrorism.
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